The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the Acts of the Apostles, faithfully translated…The commentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Actes of the Apostles, faithfully translated…

Furthermore, for as much as it is certain that Paul doth in this place inveigh against the common superstition of all the gentiles, because they would worship God under bodily shapes: we must hold this general doctrine, that God is falsely and wickedly transfigured, and that his trueth is turned into a lie, so often as his majesty is represented by any visible shape:¹ as the same Paul teacheth in the first chapter to the Romans. And though the Idolaters of all times wanted not their cloaks and colours: yet that was not without cause always objected to them by the Prophets, which Paul doth now object, that God is made like to wood or stone, or gold, when there is any image made to him of dead and corruptible matter. The Gentiles used images that according to their rudeness, they might better conceive that God was nigh unto them. But seeing that God doth far surpass the capacity of our mind, whosoever attempteth with his mind to comprehend him, he deformeth and disfigureth his glory with a wicked ⟨p. 434⟩and false imagination. Wherefore it is wickedness to imagine any thing of him according to our own sense. Again, that which worse is, it appeareth plainly, that men erect pictures and images to God for no other cause, save only because they conceive some carnal thing of him: wherein he is blasphemed. The Papists also are at this day no whit more excusable. For what colours soever they invent to paint and colour those images, whereby they go about to express GOD, yet because they be inwrapped in the same error, wherein the men of old time were entangled, they be urged with the testimonies of the prophets. And that the Heathen did use the same excuses in times past, wherewith the papists go about to cover them selves at this day, it is w•ll known out of their own books. Therefore the prophets, do not escape the mocks of certain, as if they laid too great grossness to their charge, yea burden them with false accusations: but when all things are well weighed, those who will judge rightly shall find, that whatsoever starting holes, even the most witty men have sought, yet were they taken with this madness, that God is well pleased with the sacrifice done before images. Whereas we with Erasmus translate it Numen, Luke putteth Theion in the neuter gender for divinity or godhead.

Furthermore, for as much as it is certayne that Paul doth in this place inueigh against the common superstition of all the gentiles, because they would woorshippe God vnder bodily shapes: we must holde this generall doctrine, that God is falsly and wickedly transfigured, and that his trueth is turned into a lie, so often as his maiestie is represented by any visible shape: